Background: s/Aims: The critical view of safety (CVS) prevents bile duct injury, but severe inflammation hinders its achievement.This study evaluated the parkland grading scale (PGS) as a real-time intraoperative predictor of CVS attainment in a Southeast Asian population, establishing standardized clinical data for future artificial intelligence applications. Methods: This prospective observational study (January–June 2025) included 88 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy by a single surgeon. PGS was assessed upon initial laparoscopic inspection. We analyzed correlations between PGS, CVS attainment (Strasberg’s criteria), operative time, and bail-out procedures using Spearman’s correlation and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Severe inflammation (PGS grade 4–5) was observed in 31.8% of patients. PGS exhibited a strong negative correlation with CVS score (p = −0.652; p < 0.001) and strong positive correlations with operative time and blood loss. A PGS threshold of 4 accurately predicted CVS failure (area under the curve = 0.863). Bail-out procedures were necessary in 11 cases (12.5%), all occurring in the PGS ≥ 4 group. Advanced age and diabetes mellitus were independent risk factors for CVS failure. Conclusions The PGS serves as a precise intraoperative early warning system. A score ≥ 4 indicates a significant risk of CVS failure, prompting safer bail-out strategies. Additionally, this study provides a standardized dataset vital for training future autonomous surgical risk assessment models.

Background: Neutrophil elastase (NE) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for evaluating the severity and prognosis of bronchiectasis. This study aimed to compare bronchial lavage quantification of NE levels and activities with those of sputum. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 24 Vietnamese adults with bronchiectasis were enrolled from June 2023 to August 2023. All participants underwent bronchoscopy to collect bronchial lavage fluid (BLF) from two bronchial locations: one in the region with the greatest bronchial dilatation and one in the normal bronchi or in patients with all lobes affected, the least abnormal lobe (abnormal BLF [ABLF] and normal BLF [NBLF], respectively). Spontaneously expectorated sputum was also collected. Results: Out of 24 cases, the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe bronchiectasis was 14/24 (58.4%), 5/24 (20.8%), and 5/24 (20.8%), respectively. NE concentration and activity were significantly higher in sputum and ABLF than in NBLF (p<0.001). Sputum and ABLF were highly correlated (r=0.841, p<0.001) with no significant difference in NE activity between sputum and ABLF. Higher levels of NE activity were seen in more severe bronchiectasis than in mild bronchiectasis in all samples but were only statistically significant for NE activity in sputum (r=0.418, p=0.042). Conclusion NE activity and concentration are elevated in areas of the lung most affected by bronchiectasis. Sputum is a valid surrogate of pulmonary NE levels, as they correlate strongly with ABLF and confirm in a Vietnamese population the relationship between NE activity and disease severity.

Background: Neutrophil elastase (NE) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for evaluating the severity and prognosis of bronchiectasis. This study aimed to compare bronchial lavage quantification of NE levels and activities with those of sputum. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 24 Vietnamese adults with bronchiectasis were enrolled from June 2023 to August 2023. All participants underwent bronchoscopy to collect bronchial lavage fluid (BLF) from two bronchial locations: one in the region with the greatest bronchial dilatation and one in the normal bronchi or in patients with all lobes affected, the least abnormal lobe (abnormal BLF [ABLF] and normal BLF [NBLF], respectively). Spontaneously expectorated sputum was also collected. Results: Out of 24 cases, the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe bronchiectasis was 14/24 (58.4%), 5/24 (20.8%), and 5/24 (20.8%), respectively. NE concentration and activity were significantly higher in sputum and ABLF than in NBLF (p<0.001). Sputum and ABLF were highly correlated (r=0.841, p<0.001) with no significant difference in NE activity between sputum and ABLF. Higher levels of NE activity were seen in more severe bronchiectasis than in mild bronchiectasis in all samples but were only statistically significant for NE activity in sputum (r=0.418, p=0.042). Conclusion NE activity and concentration are elevated in areas of the lung most affected by bronchiectasis. Sputum is a valid surrogate of pulmonary NE levels, as they correlate strongly with ABLF and confirm in a Vietnamese population the relationship between NE activity and disease severity.

Background: Neutrophil elastase (NE) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for evaluating the severity and prognosis of bronchiectasis. This study aimed to compare bronchial lavage quantification of NE levels and activities with those of sputum. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 24 Vietnamese adults with bronchiectasis were enrolled from June 2023 to August 2023. All participants underwent bronchoscopy to collect bronchial lavage fluid (BLF) from two bronchial locations: one in the region with the greatest bronchial dilatation and one in the normal bronchi or in patients with all lobes affected, the least abnormal lobe (abnormal BLF [ABLF] and normal BLF [NBLF], respectively). Spontaneously expectorated sputum was also collected. Results: Out of 24 cases, the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe bronchiectasis was 14/24 (58.4%), 5/24 (20.8%), and 5/24 (20.8%), respectively. NE concentration and activity were significantly higher in sputum and ABLF than in NBLF (p<0.001). Sputum and ABLF were highly correlated (r=0.841, p<0.001) with no significant difference in NE activity between sputum and ABLF. Higher levels of NE activity were seen in more severe bronchiectasis than in mild bronchiectasis in all samples but were only statistically significant for NE activity in sputum (r=0.418, p=0.042). Conclusion NE activity and concentration are elevated in areas of the lung most affected by bronchiectasis. Sputum is a valid surrogate of pulmonary NE levels, as they correlate strongly with ABLF and confirm in a Vietnamese population the relationship between NE activity and disease severity.

Background: Neutrophil elastase (NE) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for evaluating the severity and prognosis of bronchiectasis. This study aimed to compare bronchial lavage quantification of NE levels and activities with those of sputum. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 24 Vietnamese adults with bronchiectasis were enrolled from June 2023 to August 2023. All participants underwent bronchoscopy to collect bronchial lavage fluid (BLF) from two bronchial locations: one in the region with the greatest bronchial dilatation and one in the normal bronchi or in patients with all lobes affected, the least abnormal lobe (abnormal BLF [ABLF] and normal BLF [NBLF], respectively). Spontaneously expectorated sputum was also collected. Results: Out of 24 cases, the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe bronchiectasis was 14/24 (58.4%), 5/24 (20.8%), and 5/24 (20.8%), respectively. NE concentration and activity were significantly higher in sputum and ABLF than in NBLF (p<0.001). Sputum and ABLF were highly correlated (r=0.841, p<0.001) with no significant difference in NE activity between sputum and ABLF. Higher levels of NE activity were seen in more severe bronchiectasis than in mild bronchiectasis in all samples but were only statistically significant for NE activity in sputum (r=0.418, p=0.042). Conclusion NE activity and concentration are elevated in areas of the lung most affected by bronchiectasis. Sputum is a valid surrogate of pulmonary NE levels, as they correlate strongly with ABLF and confirm in a Vietnamese population the relationship between NE activity and disease severity.

Background: Neutrophil elastase (NE) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for evaluating the severity and prognosis of bronchiectasis. This study aimed to compare bronchial lavage quantification of NE levels and activities with those of sputum. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 24 Vietnamese adults with bronchiectasis were enrolled from June 2023 to August 2023. All participants underwent bronchoscopy to collect bronchial lavage fluid (BLF) from two bronchial locations: one in the region with the greatest bronchial dilatation and one in the normal bronchi or in patients with all lobes affected, the least abnormal lobe (abnormal BLF [ABLF] and normal BLF [NBLF], respectively). Spontaneously expectorated sputum was also collected. Results: Out of 24 cases, the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe bronchiectasis was 14/24 (58.4%), 5/24 (20.8%), and 5/24 (20.8%), respectively. NE concentration and activity were significantly higher in sputum and ABLF than in NBLF (p<0.001). Sputum and ABLF were highly correlated (r=0.841, p<0.001) with no significant difference in NE activity between sputum and ABLF. Higher levels of NE activity were seen in more severe bronchiectasis than in mild bronchiectasis in all samples but were only statistically significant for NE activity in sputum (r=0.418, p=0.042). Conclusion NE activity and concentration are elevated in areas of the lung most affected by bronchiectasis. Sputum is a valid surrogate of pulmonary NE levels, as they correlate strongly with ABLF and confirm in a Vietnamese population the relationship between NE activity and disease severity.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate and compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of biportal endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (BE-TLIF) using banana-shaped versus straight interbody cages. BE-TLIF has emerged as a minimally invasive technique for treating lumbar spondylolisthesis. Banana-shaped and straight cages are the most commonly used cage types in BE-TLIF; however, their relative clinical and radiological outcomes remain unclear. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 34 patients undergoing single-level BE-TLIF from January 2023 to May 2024. Seventeen patients received banana-shaped cages (group A) and 17 received straight cages (group B). Radiological assessments included disc height (DH), segmental lordosis angle (SLA), lumbar lordosis angle, cage position, and subsidence. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for back and leg pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Fusion status was evaluated at 12 months postoperatively using computed tomography according to the modified Bridwell grading system. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant postoperative improvements in VAS and ODI scores, with no statistically significant differences between the groups. Radiological outcomes, including restoration of DH and SLA, were slightly better in the banana-shaped cage group, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. Straight cages were more often placed anteriorly, whereas banana-shaped cages tended to occupy the midlateral position. Fusion rates were comparable (100% vs. 94.1%, p>0.05), and subsidence occurred in 23.5% of cases in both groups. Conclusion Despite differences in cage positioning, banana-shaped and straight cages yielded comparable clinical and radiological outcomes in BE-TLIF. Either cage type can be effectively utilized in BE-TLIF, providing flexibility in surgical planning, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Vietnam boasts a rich and diverse flora, with many endemic species. Among them, Ngoc Linh ginseng (Vietnamese ginseng; scientific name: Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv.), a high-value endemic ginseng species, has been recognized as a national treasure. While numerous studies have been conducted on its rhizomes and roots, research on its leaves remains limited. In this study, six compounds (1–6) were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of P. vietnamensis. Their structures were elucidated using ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods, and comparisons with known literature data. The identified compounds are: 12β,20(R),25-β trihydroxydammara-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1); 12β,20(R),25-trihydroxydammara-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl- (1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2); notoginsenoside SFt1 (3); ginsenoside Rh2 (4); ginsenoside Rg3 (5) and notoginsenoside L1 (6). Except for compound 3, which was isolated from the leaves for the first time, the other five compounds are reported from this species for the first time. The α-glucosidase inhibition assay of the pure isolated compounds revealed that compounds 1, 4, and 6 exhibited significant activities, with IC50 values of 133.5, 105.5, and 14.9, respectively. For comparison, the positive control, acarbose, had an IC50 value of 138.2 µM.

Vietnam boasts a rich and diverse flora, with many endemic species. Among them, Ngoc Linh ginseng (Vietnamese ginseng; scientific name: Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv.), a high-value endemic ginseng species, has been recognized as a national treasure. While numerous studies have been conducted on its rhizomes and roots, research on its leaves remains limited. In this study, six compounds (1–6) were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of P. vietnamensis. Their structures were elucidated using ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods, and comparisons with known literature data. The identified compounds are: 12β,20(R),25-β trihydroxydammara-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1); 12β,20(R),25-trihydroxydammara-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl- (1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2); notoginsenoside SFt1 (3); ginsenoside Rh2 (4); ginsenoside Rg3 (5) and notoginsenoside L1 (6). Except for compound 3, which was isolated from the leaves for the first time, the other five compounds are reported from this species for the first time. The α-glucosidase inhibition assay of the pure isolated compounds revealed that compounds 1, 4, and 6 exhibited significant activities, with IC50 values of 133.5, 105.5, and 14.9, respectively. For comparison, the positive control, acarbose, had an IC50 value of 138.2 µM.

STRESS IN RELATIONSHIP WITH BURNOUT DUE TO COVID-19: THE MODERATING ROLE OF COPING STRATEGIES This study investigates the relationship between stress and burnout related to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the moderating influence of positive and negative coping strategies. In a cross-sectional survey involving 3,664 Vietnamese citizens aged 18 and above, the research explores the dynamics of stress and burnout symptoms associated with the ongoing pandemic. The results reveal a negative impact of stress symptoms on COVID-19-related burnout among the population. Notably, both positive and negative coping strategies are identified as significant moderators in the interplay between stress and burnout. This suggests that individuals’ coping mechanisms influence the severity of stress and burnout experienced in dealing with COVID-19 challenges. These findings contribute to the foundational understanding of the stress-burnout relationship during the pandemic and provide essential insights for interventions. By recognizing the moderating role of coping strategies, this study lays the groundwork for strategies aimed at enhancing individuals’ coping abilities, ultimately reducing stress and burnout levels. These insights hold the potential to assist individuals in adapting more effectively to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, fostering improved mental well-being in the face of ongoing uncertainties. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (3) March, 2024; 1-10.